Finding the right placement for you

Before you start researching potential placement opportunities, it's important to understand your own values and what you are looking for in a placement host. Therefore, we encourage you to consider the following questions:

• Where would you like to do a placement?
• What is important to you when looking for a role?
• What does the company’s culture look like and how do they treat their employees?
• What is the organisation’s main goal?
• Are you looking for an experience within a large organisation, or working in a start-up where there may be more flexibility within your role?

Once you have found a suitable placement host, the next step is finding and securing that placement. This is a competitive process, where you will need to pro-actively apply for a job within your chosen field. Our preparation for Placement programme will support you more directly with this process during your studies.

In the meantime, we have provided some of the ways you can begin your placement search:

• Applying directly via our Placement team
• Finding established placement programmes
• Speculative applications (Sending your CV to organisations that are not currently advertising)
• Placements will be advertised as vacancies on company websites, jobs sites and the university placement team will notify eligible students of opportunities

The application process

The application process can vary between businesses. Multinational organisations will have several stages starting with an online application or CV upload, followed by video or telephone interview and then face to face interviews and/or assessment centres. Smaller employers are more likely to request a CV and cover letter followed by a single interview.

Creating your CV should be the first step for any student who wishes to take on a placement during their degree. This provides the employer with details about your work experience, education and any relevant information for the type of placement you wish to apply for. Current students can find more in-depth guides through our Student Futures Career hub.

Some organisations may also ask for a cover letter to accompany your CV. The aim of a cover letter is to showcase your personal attributes and skills to the employer, allowing them to learn more about you as an individual and why you think you would be a suitable applicant for the role.

Don’t forget, if you think you would benefit from some extra support in writing or perfecting your CV or cover letter, you can arrange a one-to-one appointment with one of our experienced Placement co-ordinators or Career Development Consultants.

Preparing for Interviews

Interviews, whether conducted face to face, via telephone or through digital platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, typically play a key role in any recruitment process. Studying interview questions and researching the organisation will give you crucial knowledge about the business and the role you intend to apply for. 

If you think you would benefit from some extra support in preparing for an upcoming interview, you can arrange a one-to-one appointment with one of our experienced Career Development Consultants including a mock interview. 

How to accept your placement offer

When you have been offered a placement, you can start the approval process by getting in touch with your Placement team. This allows us to review your offer and organise some additional checks to ensure you have a fantastic and safe placement experience. In addition, we will provide information on what to expect for unpaid and paid placements should you need it.

Additional Support

You will have support throughout your placement. Below are some quick links and signposts to direct support that you can receive before, during and after your placement.

You can book appointments for any of the following subjects at MyFuture:

• CV, cover letter or application review 
• General advice: Your placement search; reviewing your progress; securing your own placement; placement criteria
• Accepting your placement 

You can also book an appointment with one of the experienced Career Development Consultants for tailored support and guidance during any point of your Placement year, or upon your return ahead of preparing for future applications in your final year.